WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY
Every year on August 19th, World Photography Day (also known as World Photo Day) celebrates the art, craft, science, and history of photography. The day also encourages photographers from around the globe to share a single photo that encapsulates their world.
The kind of photography we know today dates back to 1839. At that time, the French Academy of Sciences announced the Daguerreotype process. The process made it possible to create a highly detailed image on a sheet of copper. The sheet was coated with a thin coat of silver, and the process did not require the use of a negative. It became the first method for obtaining a permanent image with a camera.
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Over 40 years later in 1884, George Eastman from Rochester, NY refined the Daguerreotype process. He replaced the copper plate with a dry gel on paper, which he called film. This invention alleviated the need for photographers to carry around heavy copper plates and toxic chemicals. In 1888, Eastman developed the Kodak camera. The inventional allowed virtually anyone to take a photo.
With the explosion of digital photography, many people no longer use film in their cameras. However, some photographers would rather use film than digital photography. Some of the reasons they prefer film include:
- Higher resolution
- No electricity required
- Fewer copyright issues
- Easier to lose a digital photo than one on film
HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldPhotographyDay
The best way to observe this day is to share your favorite photo with others. This can include actual printed photographs or digital photos. You can also submit a photo to WorldPhotographyDay.com
Other ways to observe this day include:
- Learn about photography and the skills it takes to be a photographer.
- Talk to a photographer and find out why they enjoy their profession.
- Get family photos taken by a professional photographer.
- Read about famous photographers including Robert Frank, Ansel Adams, Anne Geddes, and David Bailey.
- Go to your local bookstore and peruse the photography books.
- Commit to taking a photography course.
- Follow these TIPS to get the most out of your camera.
Be sure to share a favorite photo or two on social media with #WorldPhotographyDay.
WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY HISTORY
The first World Photography Day was held on August 19, 2010. It was on this date that nearly 270 photographers shared their pictures in a global online gallery. People from over 100 countries visited the online gallery. This event marked the first official World Photography Day. The day is held August 19th as it’s the date in 1839 that the government in France purchased the patent for the Daguerreotype process. The French government called the invention of the Daguerreotype process a free gift to the world.
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